Yogurt franchise and Mongolian restaurant come to Brandon

BRANDON — Yogurtology already has been a hit in Sarasota and Tampa. This weekend, it's coming to Brandon.

Yogurtology is an Arizona-based frozen yogurt chain that expanded into Florida earlier this year. It offers dozens of flavors of yogurt, with a rotating selection of 12 flavors available at any time, as well as 65 toppings and six "bottomings" — cookies, brownies and the like. It's all self-serve, so customers can create their own frozen yogurt dishes and then pay by weight.

"All our fruits are fresh-cut," said Grant Levy, who co-owns the Brandon Yogurtology franchise with his sister Jaclyn Levy and Keenan Baldwin. "Nothing's packaged. Even the chocolate bars are fresh-cut. They're not bought in bulk already crumbled."

For its grand opening Saturday, Yogurtology will give customers free yogurt for two hours during the day, but Grant Levy said he didn't yet know which two hours.

Mongolian restaurant to open in Brandon

BRANDON — If you have an inner Mongolian chef, here's your chance to let him or her out.

Genghis Grill, which is set to open Dec. 12, will offer its customers an empty bowl to fill with a variety of meats and vegetables. They can put as much as they want inside. Then the customers, which the company calls "fans," can watch a cook or "warrior" stir-fry it right in front of them.

It's all a set price — $8.99 for lunch and $10.99 for dinner — no matter what items the customer chooses or how much he or she fits into the bowl. Carry-out orders are $8.99 all day.

Genghis Grill is a national chain that started in Texas. It recently expanded into, or "Khanqered," Florida. The Brandon location is its third.

"It's already popular in Tallahassee and Gainesville," said Jordan Dorsch, president of the Brandon franchise. "I'll be walking around with my Genghis shirt on and people who I guess are home from college see me and say 'Yeah, Genghis Grill, I love that place.' "

The Brandon Genghis Grill features an Asian decor and seating for 200, including 24 on the patio.

Dorsch said he plans to open five more Genghis Grill locations in the Tampa Bay area. South Tampa and Carrollwood are probably next up, he said.

Genghis Grill will be at 910 Providence Road, just north of Lumsden Road. Its owners are still determining operating hours but say the restaurant will probably be open from 11 a.m. until 10 p.m. seven days a week.